A/HRC/32/36/Add.3 including in relation to its composition and procedures. The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that the right to life should be guaranteed by States to all individuals under all circumstances and at all times, including in the context of the exercise of the rights to freedom of association, as prescribed by article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 552. Regarding the alleged violations perpetrated against Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Special Rapporteur is grateful for the State’s reply of 21 December 2015 (RUS 6/2015). He would appreciate additional information about any investigations or inquiries conducted in relation to the criminal prosecutions against Jehovah’s Witnesses or their associations in these cases, as well as information on developments in ongoing cases. He calls on the Government to ensure that the relevant laws governing religious organisations comply with international human rights law on freedom of association. 553. He recalls that the term “association” denotes “any groups of individuals or any legal entities brought together in order to collectively act, express, promote, pursue or defend a field of common interests” and that the term refers to, among others, “civil society organizations, clubs, cooperatives, NGOs, religious associations, political parties, trade unions, foundations or even online associations” (A/HRC/20/27, paras. 51 and 52). He urges the Government to recognize that the rights to both freedom of peaceful assembly and association play a significant role in the development and survival of meaningful democratic systems since they allow for an environment where minority or dissenting views or beliefs are respected and enable dialogue, pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedness. 554. The Special Rapporteur takes this opportunity to remind the Government of the Russian Federation of its positive obligation to ensure to promote a safe and enabling environment for individuals and groups to exercise their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, of expression and of association, recalls that all States have the responsibility in all circumstances, to promote, respect and protect human rights and to prevent human rights violations, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and sexual violence (A/HRC/RES/31/37, para. 1). Country visit 555. The Special Rapporteur reminds the Government of his pending requests to visit the country, as indicated by his letter sent in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He trusts that such a visit would allow him to examine first-hand issues related to his mandate, identify good practices and formulate pertinent recommendations to relevant stakeholders. He looks forward to receiving a positive reply at the earliest possible opportunity. He reiterates that Human Rights Council resolution 15/21, which established his mandate, and 24/5, which renewed it for an additional period of three years, both call upon States to consider favourably his requests for visits. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 556. JUA 20/05/2015. Case no. MKD 2/2015. State reply: 30/07/2015; 18/09/2015. Alleged arbitrary detention and prosecution of a large number of individuals in the context of peaceful protests in the city of Skopje. 80